India’s aim not to burn like fire, but to light up like the Sun: PM Modi in New York

Referring to himself as the “first Indian PM born after independence”, Modi said, “I could not give life for swaraj (independence) but decided to dedicate my life for it.”

India’s aim not to burn like fire, but to light up like the Sun: Modi in NY

PM Modi at a diaspora event in New York on Sunday. (PTI)

Describing today’s India as one that “does not await opportunities, but creates them”, PM Narendra Modi Sunday said India was becoming a leader in global affairs but underlined the aim was not supremacy.

“Today, the world listens to India. When I said this isn’t the era of war, all listened seriously,” he said in his address to the Indian diaspora at New York’s Nassau Coliseum, amid chants of “Modi, Modi”. “Earlier, India maintained equal distance from all, now we maintain equal closeness to all. On our initiative, the African Union became a regular member of G20… Today India comes forward as first responder wherever there is trouble in the world.”

The PM said the aim, however, was not to “to dominate the world” but “to help in global prosperity.” “India’s priority is not to enhance its dominance, but its influence. We are not there to burn like fire, but to light up like the Sun.”

Read | ‘Namaste has become multinational’: PM Modi in address to Indian diaspora

Seeking to project Indian democracy as a model for the world, the PM said 2024 was a crucial year as some countries “are at war and some are celebrating democracy”. “We had elections and elections are due in the US. Our elections were the biggest in human history. Almost double the population in US and more than Europe’s population voted in India,” he said.

PM Modi with rapper Hanumankind in New York on Sunday. (PTI)

Referring to himself as the “first Indian PM born after independence”, Modi said, “I could not give life for swaraj (independence) but decided to dedicate my life for it.”

Praising the role of Indian Americans in India-US ties, he called them India’s “brand ambassadors”. “You have connected India with America and vice versa. Your talent has no competition… Our namaste has become multinational – from local to global.”

Vikas Pathak

Vikas Pathak is deputy associate editor with The Indian Express and writes on national politics. He has over 17 years of experience, and has worked earlier with The Hindustan Times and The Hindu, among other publications. He has covered the national BJP, some key central ministries and Parliament for years, and has covered the 2009 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls and many state assembly polls. He has interviewed many Union ministers and Chief Ministers. Vikas has taught as a full-time faculty member at Asian College of Journalism, Chennai; Symbiosis International University, Pune; Jio Institute, Navi Mumbai; and as a guest professor at Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. Vikas has authored a book, Contesting Nationalisms: Hinduism, Secularism and Untouchability in Colonial Punjab (Primus, 2018), which has been widely reviewed by top academic journals and leading newspapers. He did his PhD, M Phil and MA from JNU, New Delhi, was Student of the Year (2005-06) at ACJ and gold medalist from University Rajasthan College in Jaipur in graduation. He has been invited to top academic institutions like JNU, St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and IIT Delhi as a guest speaker/panellist. ... Read More

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Narendra Modi